If you are looking to refinish and waterproof some outdoor furniture, you may want to consider using teak oil. It is a natural alternative to commercial grade sealers and finishes. There is really nothing to figure out how to use teak oil. It is applied like any other wood stain.

The first thing to do is find a spot with decent airflow. Since you’re working on outdoor furniture, you might as well get the job done outside, right? There’s no reason to risk your health around all the fumes when you can let Mother Nature remove the nasty fumes. If you feel the need to work indoors, make sure you have enough ventilation and wear a respirator.

The next step is to deep clean the wood. You need to scrub it and make sure there is no mold or mildew buildup. Let the furniture dry completely before you start staining.

Now that the wood is ready to be stained, give it a quick look with a rag soaked in mineral spirits to remove any dust that may have fallen on the furniture overnight. While the wood dries, go ahead and stir in the teak oil and lay out your brushes and rags.

Since you’re working with a stain, you’ll want to put on a pair of gloves before continuing. A blotchy hand really isn’t that attractive.

Now that it’s gloved, take a brush and put a thick coat of oil all over the piece of furniture. Be sure to apply thick coats to areas exposed to direct sunlight. Stay away from any fixing hardware, you don’t want to scratch the bolts with an oil slick.

Let the teak oil soak in for 10 to 15 minutes. After the time is up, use a clean cloth to wipe the entire surface. You don’t want to leave any puddles of oil waiting for it to dry.

Furniture will need at least a full day to dry between coats of stain.

You can add as many layers as you want. Each successive coat will add a deeper, more luxurious look to the wood. Just be sure to leave twenty-four hours between each coat.

The best thing about the oil is that it really accentuates any wood. The deeper the oil penetrates, the more kernels will come out. The oil will also develop new intense colors with time and exposure to weather. The longer the furniture sits outside, the prettier it will become.

To keep your finish in tip-top shape, reapply it every year. You will not need to go through the same efforts to prepare as these first few coats you have applied. Simply rinse and let dry, then reapply the teak oil.

Now you know how to use teak oil. Just pick up a few cans from the hardware store. Grab a pair of gloves and you’re ready to bring out the beautiful wood patterns hidden in your outdoor furniture.